Barrel support for automatic firearms



Sept. 5, 1944.

G. WEBB BARREL SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC lFIREARMS Filed Feb. 16, 1942 Patented Sept. 5, 1944 BARREL SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS George lrVebb, Hartford, Conn., assigner to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,030

Claims.

This invention relates to a barrel support for use with an automatic firearm when inserting a barrel in or removing the same from the breech casing of an automatic firearm.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting member is primarily but not restrictively intended for use with an automatic rearm of the caliber 37 mm. type which is generally known as an automatic cannon.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a supporting means provided with an opensided seat for the barrel of an automatic firearm, said supporting means functioning primarily as an aligning means for the barrel when inserting the same in operative position in the rearm or removing the barrel therefrom. Another object of the invention is to provide a barrel supporting means which is readily attached to or removed from the rearm with a minimum of manipulation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a barrel supporting means having a seat adapted to readily engage fixed members of the firearm for proper alignment of the supporting means thereon. The supporting means also has a portion adapted to be engaged by the barrel when being inserted in or removed from the breech casing., the barrel engaging portion of the supporting means serving to properly align threads on the breech end of the barrel with threads in the barrel extension of the firearm to facilitate the insertion or removal of the barrel.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and drawing which form a part thereof.

The accompanying drawing shows the embodiment of the invention which is deemed preferable, but it will be understood that the drawing is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisv specication being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a side elevation of an automatic firearm with the barrel supporting means attached thereto in operative position; part of the rear portion of theV rearm being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale showing the barrel support inserted in operative position between the barrel and recuperator tube.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective View of the barrel support shown on an enlarged scale.

The barrel support forming the present invention, while shown in its preferred embodiment for use in connection with an automatic firearm of the caliber 37 mm. automatic cannon type is adapted for use with other firearms in which a relatively long and heavy barrel projects a considerable'distance from its supported end in the breech casing and` particularly where, due to the weight and length of the barrel, the proper aligning of the threads of the barrel with the threads of the barrel extension or other barrel engaging means is dilicult tov achieve. The present illustration of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is therefore to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive.

The automatic cannon with which the barrel support is shown in use in the preferred embodiment of the invention is the type described and illustrated in detail -in U. S.- Patent 1,525,065 to Browning and also in applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 325,405, filed March 22, 1940. Inasmuch as the present invention isV concerned only with a barrel supporting means, little detailed description of the operation of the various component parts of the cannon is herein given. For a more complete understanding ofv the' full operation of the cannon, attention is invited to the above-mentionedv patent andl application.

Automatic cannons of the' caliber 37 mm. type are made in a plurality of sizes each having different muzzle velocities. These cannons, hereinafter referred to as guns, each have a barrel removable from the front end of the breech casing. The barrel of each different size of gun is of a diierent weight and length from barrels of other sizes of guns', said weights ranging upward to approximately one hundred and twenty pounds and the lengths ranging upward to about six and one-half feet. The breech' end of the barrel is provided with external threads which are received in an internally threaded portion of a barrel extension mounted for re'ciprocable movement -in the breech casing; TheY trunnion block of the breech casing is providedn with a bearingl in the nature of a slide bearing which is about three and a half or four inchesV long and through which thebarrel reciprocates during firing'. Inasmuch as the breech of the barrel is subjected toconsiderable heatduring iiring, adequate clearance must be provided between the outer surface of the breech of thebarr'el' arid 'the slide bearing at normal-"temperature soY that when the breech of the barrel expandsr due to Vside of the barrel.

heat, the breech when fully expanded will still readily reciprocate within the slide bearing. At normal temperature, the inner diameter of the Y slide bearing is about twelve-thousandths of an inch larger than the outer diameter of the barrel breech to provide adequate clearance. Y`

It is obvious, that, with this much clearance and with the length of the slide bearing being very short compared with the total length of the barrel, when the threaded end of the barrel breech is being inserted in or removed from the internally threaded portion of the barrel extension, substantial lateral movement at the outer end of the barrel will be permitted, and it is diflcult to align the breech threads with the barrel'rextensi'on threads to permit easy movement of the threads with respect to each other. This difficulty is enhanced due to the substantial weight of the barrel.

Heretofore, when inserting or removing a gun barrel and the barrel was found to rotate only with great difficulty, due to the threads of the breech and barrel extension being cramped or improperly aligned with respect to each other, rotation of the barrel was forced by a wrench or other means, resultingin considerable damage to the threads of either the breech, barrel extension, or both.

In order to prevent the occurrence of the difculty described above and particularly Vthe possibility of damaging the threads, the present invention has been devised to afford a supporting means for the barrel which serves not only as a support for the weight of the barrel but also as an aligning means for the threads of the breech with respect to the threads of the barrel extension whereby the movement of one set of threads with respect to the other is facilitated to the extent that the barrel may be readily rotated by hand without the necessity of using a wrench or other similar too1 and no consequent injury to either set of threads will result.

Theinvention primarily consists of a bi-par tite, separable supporting means, the component parts of which are each provided with a pluthe tube near the outer or forward end thereof.

The other concave portion of each of the component parts of the barrel supporting means comprises a portion of an open-,sided seat adapted .to engage the curved outer surface of the under Each component part is pro,- vided with elements adapted to intert with similar elements on the other part and locking ymeans are provided for securing the component parts assembled asia unit. The component parts are adapted to be inserted from opposite sides of the barrel and recuperator tube and be quickly secured together.

The component partsY are provided on their lower extremities with surfaces adapted to respectivelyengage the driving spring tube guards provided on guns of this type whereby, when .the supporting means is mounted on the recuperator tube, only very slight rotative move- 'ment of the supporting means with respect to thetube is permitted. The arcuate surface of the supporting member which is engaged by the barrel is formed thereon so as to properly space the barrel vertically with respect to the recuperator tube and, in view of the lower extremities ofthe supporting member engaging the driving spring tube guards, the barrel engaging surface will properly position the barrel horizontally above the recuperator tube so that the breech threads will be in proper alignment with the` threads of the barrel extension and movement of the two sets of threads with respect to each other will readily take place.

After the barrel has been inserted in or removed from the breech casing, the barrel support is readily removable from between the barrel and recuperator tube whereby it will not interfere with the normal operation of the gun while firing.V

Referring to the drawing, the breech casing l0 has a reciprocable barrel or tube l2 projecting and removable from the forward end thereof. The trunnion block I3 is provided'with a suitable elongated slide bearing in which the barrel I2 reciprocates. A recuperator tube I4 also projects from the forward end of the breech casing and is relatively xed thereto. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the recuperator tube is below the barrel but spaced therefrom, and is substantially parallel tothe barrel. The forward end of the recuperator tube extends considerably beyond the breech casing.Y The forward end of the recuperator tube is also provided with an enlarged portion I6 which is internally threaded to receive a threaded plug I8 which closes the outer end of the recuperator tube. Y

Disposed at opposite sides of the recuperator tube is a driving spring tube 20 and flanges 22 and 24, serving as guards therefor, project outward from opposite sides of the recuperator tube and are disposed above and below the driving spring tube.

The` barrel support generally indicated as 26 is bi-partite and composed of separable parts 2B and 3D. Each part is provided with an arcuate concave surface-3l comprising a portion or sec-V tion of an open-sided seat adapted to be engaged by the curved outer surface of the barrel, and

- arcuate concave surface 32 comprising a portion ed to abut the driving spring tube guard 22.

Intertting means consisting of projecting members or ears 36 and 38, are disposed on each of the parts. The projecting members 36 and 38. are each provided with apertures 40 which,

whenfthe component parts are assembled as a j unit, are disposed in substantial axial alignment.

The apertures 40 are adapted to receive aremovable locking pin 42 having an elongated handle 44 connected to one end, and the opposite end of the pin is preferably beveled to facilitate insertion in the apertures. The handle 44 projects laterally in opposite directions from the `pin 42 a substantial distance so as to provide a portion which may be readily manually engaged from either side of the .barrel whereby degree.

the pin 42 may be readily inserted in or removed from the apertures 40.

Assuming the barrel is to be removed from the breech casing, the component parts of the barrel support 2B arelaterally inserted from opposite sides ofthe barrel and recuperator tube so that the projecting members 36 and 38 interfit and the apertures 40 are aligned. The pin 42 is then inserted in the apertures to detachably lock the parts 28 and 30 assembled as a unit. The barrel support is made separable and the component parts are assembled by being inserted between the barrel and tube from opposite sides thereof in view of the enlarged portion I6 formed on the outer end of the recuperator tube which precludes the movement of a one piece supporting means between the barrel and enlarged portion [6/ since the space therebetween is less than the thickness of the intcrtting members 36 and 38.

The surfaces 34 of the component parts are adapted to abut the driving spring tube guards 22 to properly align the concave barrel engaging surfaces in the proper horizontal and vertical positions above the recuperator tube. When so positioned, the radial center of the arcuate barrel engaging surfaces ofthe barrel support will be substantially vertically above the central axis of the recuperator tube. In the preferred construction, a slight tolerance is provided between the surfaces 34 and the driving spring tube guards 22 which will permit slight rotation of the assembled barrel support with respect to the recuperator tube, through an arc of about one This tolerance Will insure that the concave recuperator tube engaging surfaces 32 will always engage the upper surface of the recuperator tube. The concave barrel engaging surfaces 3I are spaced from the concave recuperator tube engaging surfaces 32 sufficiently so that when the barrel support engages the recuperator tube adjacent the outer end thereof, the barrel will be vertically disposed above the recuperator tube the proper distance to have its breech threads in proper axial alignment with the barrel extension threads which receive the same.

With thek barrel support thus assembled between the recuperator tube and barrel, the barrel may be readily unthreaded from the barrel extension andV removed from the breech casing.

To insert a barrel in the breech casingy and thread the same into the barrel extension, it is merely necessary to place the assembled barrel support on the recuperator tube adjacent the outer end and place the barrel in the arcuate. upper surface of the barrel support and then move the barrel into the breech casing opening provided therefor. When the breech threads engage the threads of the barrel extension, they will be properly aligned for reception therein. After vthe barrel has been threaded into the barrel eX- tension the required distance, the barrel support is readily disassembled and removed from the gull.

Inasmuch as the diameter of the barrel at the portion thereof engaged by the barrel support is considerably less than the diameter of the recuperator tube, no di'iculty will be experienced in` distinguishing the concave surface 3| fromrthe concave surface 32. Furthermore, confusion is further avoided by the fact that in the preferred embodiment,. the surfaces 34 are made substantially wider than the uppermost horizontal surfacesA of Ythe barrel support. If desired, the concave surfaces may also be distinguished by suitable legends placed appropriately on the component-parts.

The material from which the barrel support is preferably formed, and particularly the component parts 28 and 30 thereof, is bronze. Itis to be understood, however, that any other suitable material may be used.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the barrel supportA has been shown composed of a plurality of separable parts adapted to be detachably secured by thek means described and illustrated. It is to be understood that the component parts of the barrel support may be changed in design and other equivalent securing means may be utilized without` departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

It will. thus be seen that the present invention provides a supporting means for a gun barrel While being inserted in or removed from the breech casing of the firearm, the supporting means being readily attachable to and removable from its proper position on the recuperator tube and, when so positioned, the barrel when engaging the supporting means for support thereby is held in proper position to have the threads of the breech end thereof freely and readily cooperable with the threads in the barrel extension to thus prevent the possibility of injury to either of the sets of threads.

While the invention has been. illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details,v it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways,

falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic firearm having a breech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof, said casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which thel breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, and a member xedly supported at oneend by and projecting from said end of said casing below said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in lXed spaced relationship thereto, in combination with a barrel supporting means having a portion engageable with said member forv support thereby in a substantially fixed position thereon, said supporting means also having a substantially concave open-sided seat normally disposed below said barrel for slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel in vertical and horizontal alignment with said breech casing while said barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing.

2. An automatic firearm having a breech cas ing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof, said casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which the breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, and a substantially cylindrical member xedly supported at one end by and projecting from said end of said casing below said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in fixed spaced relationship thereto, said member also having a non-cylindrical portion on its surface, in combination with a barrel supporting means having a portion engageable withv said member for support thereby in a substantially xed'position thereon, and an abutment on Asaid supporting means engageable with Y said non-cylindrical portion of said member for preventing any appreciable rotation of lsaid supporting means with respect to said member, said supporting means also having a substantially concave open-sided seat normally disposed below said barrel for slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel vinvertical and horizontal alignment withsaid breech casing while said barrel is being secured -to or removed from said casing.

3. An automatic rearm having a breechcasing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length fromone endthereof, said casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel Vand to which the breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, a substantially cylindrical member xedly supported atone endV by and' projecting from said end of said casingv below f said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in fixed spaced relationshiprthereto, anda projection extending outward from the surface of said member, in combination with a barrel Vsupporting means having aA portion engageable with said member for support thereby in a substantially Viixed position thereon, and an abutment on said supporting means engageable with said projection to prevent any appreciablerrotation of said supporting means Withrespect to said member, said supporting means also having a substantially concave open-sided seat normally disposed below said barrel for slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel in vertical andrhorizontalalignment with said breech casing while said barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing.

4. An automatic firearm having abreech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof,'said casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which the breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, and a member iiXedly supported at one end by and projecting from said end of said casing below said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in lixed spaced rela,- tionship thereto, in combinationwith a barrel support having a portion detachably engageable with said member for supportl thereby in a substantially xed Y position thereon and provided with means whereby said support may be readily mounted on and removed fromsaid member, said support also having a substantially concave opensided seat normally disposed below said barrel y for slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel in vertical and horizontal alignment with said breech casing while said barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing. Y

5. An automatic firearm having a breech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof,rsaid casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel Yand to which the breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, and a member xedly supported at one endV by and projecting from saidV end of said casing below said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in xed spaced relationship thereto, in combination with a bipartite barrel support comprising separable parts respectively havingrme'ans-disposable between said `barrelV and 'member from., opposite sides thereof and veach'part also having a portion engageable Vwith said member for support thereby ina substantially lfixed position thereon, rand meansv to detachably hold said parts assembled,` said partsralso respectively having portions Acomprising sections of a substantially `concave open-sided seat normally disposed belowV said barrel forl slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel inY vertical and horizontal alignment with said breech casingwhile said barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing.

6. An automatic firearm having a breech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof,rsaid casing Ybeing provided with means for slidablyV and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which the breech end of the barrel -is detachably secured for support thereby, and a member xedly supported at one end by and projecting from said below said barrel forrslidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel in vertical and horizontal alignment with said breech casing while lsaid barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing.

7. An automatic firearm having a breech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end thereof, said casing being provided with means for slidably and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which the breech end of the barrel is detachably secured for support thereby, and a member xedly supported at one end by and projecting from said end of A'said casing below said barrel and lpartially coextensively therewith` and in xed spaced relationship thereto, in combination with a bipartite barrel support Vcomprising separable parts respectively having means-disposable between said barrel and member from opposite sides thereof and said means respectively having portions *providedy with aligned Vapertures and Vinterrltting when the parts are assembled, each of said parts also having a portion engageable with said member for support thereby in a substantially fixed position thereon, and a pin detachably mounted in said aligned apertures toV hold said parts separably assembled, said parts 'also respectively having portions comprising sections of a substantially concave open-sided seat normally disposed below said barrel for slidable and rotatable engagement thereby to properly -maintain said barrel in vertical and horizontal alignment with `said breech casing while said barrel is being secured to or Yremoved from said casing. i

8. An automatic rearm having a breech casing, a removable barrel projecting for substantially its full length from one end-thereof, said casing deingrprovided with means for slidably .and rotatably receiving said barrel and to which vthe breech end of the barrel is detachably se- .cured for support thereby, and a member xedly supported at one end by and projecting from said end of said casing below said barrel and partially coextensively therewith and in fixed spaced relationship thereto, in combination with a bipartite barrel support comprising separable parts respectively having means disposable between said barrel and member from opposite sides thereof and said means respectively having portions lintertting and provided with aligned apertures when the parts are assembled, each of said parts also having a portion engageable with said member for support thereby in a substantially fixed position thereon, a pin detachably mounted in said aligned apertures to hold said parts separably assembled, a manually operable handle secured to said pin and projecting from one side of said barrel and member, said parts also respectively having portions comprising sections of a substantially concave open-sided seat normally disposed below said barrel for slidable and rotatable'engagement thereby to properly maintain said barrel in vertical and horizontal alignment with said breech casing while said barrel is being secured to or removed from said casing.

9. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member fxedly secured to the body of the firearm and partially coextending with the barrel below the same and in substantially fixed spaced relationship thereto, said support comprising a unit having on one side thereof an open-sided seat adapted to engage and be supported by said member and said unit also having on an opposed side thereof a substantially concave arcuate surface comprising an open-sided seat adapted to receive said barrel to support said barrel in proper alignment with the firearm while inserting or removing the barrel.

10. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member xedly secured to the body of the firearm and partially coextending with the barrel below the same and in substantially fixed spaced relationship thereto, said sup-port comprising a unit having on opposed sides thereof concave arcuate surfaces comprising open-sided seats respectively adapted to engage said member for support thereby and receive said barrel to support said barrel in proper alignment with the firearm while inserting or removing the barrel.

11. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member fixedly secured to the body of the firearm and partially coextending with the barrel below the same and in substantially fixed spaced relationship thereto, said support comprising in combination, a bi-partite unit provided with surfaces comprising open-sided seats adapted to respectively engage said member and barrel and the separable component parts of said unit each being adapted to be separately associated with said barrel, and means to connect said component parts together in operative position to support said barrel in proper alignment with the firearm while inserting or removing said barrel.

12. A barrel support for use with a rearm having a removable barrel and a member fixedly secured to the body of the firearm and partially coextending with the barrel below the same and in substantially fixed spaced relationship thereto, said support comprising in combination, separable component parts each having a plurality of concave surfaces which when the parts are assembled comprise portions of open-sided seats respectively adapted to engage said barrel and member, and means to detachably secure said parts together, whereby said member and support are adapted to maintain the barrel in pro'per alignment with the firearm while inserting or removing the barrel.

13. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member flxedly secured to the body of the firearm and disposed below the barrel intermediately of the ends thereof and in substantially fixed spaced relationship thereto, said support comprising in combination separable component parts each having a plurality of surfaces which when the parts are assembled comprise portions of open-sided seats respectively adapted to engage said barrel and member, each part having portions adapted to interfit with each other when the parts are assembled, and locking means adapted to engage said intertting portions to detachably secure said parts together, whereby said member and support are adapted to maintain the barrel in proper alignment with the firearm while inserting or removing the barrel.

14. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member xedly secured to the body of the firearm and disposed below the barrel intermediately of the ends thereof and in spaced relationship thereto, said support comprising in combination separable component parts each having a plurality of surfaces which when the parts are assembled comprise portions of open-sided seats respectively adapted to engage said barrel and member, each part having apertured portions adapted to lnterfit with each other with the apertures disposed in alignment when interfitted, and a lockmoving the barrel.

15. A barrel support for use with a firearm having a removable barrel and a member fixedly secured to the body of the firearm and disposed below the barrel intermediately of the ends thereof, said support comprising in combination, separable component parts each having a plurality of concave surfaces which when the parts are assembled comprise portions of open-sided seats adapted to respectively engage said barrel and member, apertured members projecting from one side of each part which when the parts are assembled interiit with each other with the apertures disposed in alignment, a locking pin adapted to be inserted in said aligned apertures to detachably secure said parts assembled, whereby said member and support are adapted to maintain the barrel in proper alignment with the rearm while inserting or removing the barrel, and a handle secured to said locking pin and having a manually engageable portion adapted to project beyond one side of said barrel and member to permit ready manual actuation of said locking pin.

GEORGE WEBB. 

